Transitioning from Ladybug5 to Ladybug5+

Preparing for use

Before you use your camera, we recommend that you are aware of the following resources available from our downloads page:

• Getting Started Manual for the camera—provides information on installing components and software needed to run the camera.
• Technical Reference for the camera—provides information on the camera’s specifications, features and operations, as well as imaging and acquisition controls.
• Firmware updates—ensure you are using the most up-to-date firmware for the camera to take advantage of improvements and fixes.
• Tech Insights—Subscribe to our monthly email updates containing information on new knowledge base articles, new firmware and software releases, and Product Change Notices (PCN).

Questions about Upgrading from Ladybug5 to Ladybug5+

Is Ladybug5 being discontinued?

Yes, but not immediately. The Ladybug5+ is intended to replace the Ladybug5.

What other hardware is needed to use Ladybug5+?

Ladybug5+ uses the same hardware as Ladybug5.

• Interface Card—The Ladybug5+ requires a USB 3.1 PCIe host controller card compliant with the SuperSpeed USB Specification and the xHCI Specification. A host controller card is available as an accessory. For VR-360 applications, we recommend the latest on-board Intel host controller and driver to handle the high data rates associated with operating the camera at 30 FPS.
• Cable—The Ladybug5+ requires a USB 3.1 Type-A to Micro-B cable with locking screws. A 5 m cable is provided with the camera.
• Power supply—Power must be provided through the 12-pin GPIO interface. The required input voltage is 12-24 V. A power supply and wiring harness is provided with the camera.
• Mounting—Both a desktop and a tripod mount are provided with the camera.

Can I run Ladybug5+ with my existing application?

The Ladybug SDK version 1.15 (or newer) is required to run Ladybug5+. This version of the SDK contains the following new features and enhancements:

• Added ladybugSetGpsTimeSync() call to API
• Added ladybugGetGpsTimeSync() call to API

Additionally, the Ladybug SDK contains several new example programs to support new the features of Ladybug5+, including:

• ladybugGPSTimeSync

Using an earlier version of the Ladybug SDK with Ladybug5+ is not supported.

Image Processing Pipeline

Image Processing

For both Ladybug5 and Ladybug5+, when using Raw8 or JPEG8 pixel formats, some image processing is done on the camera during capture before being output to the PC. Additional post processing is then performed on the PC.

When using Raw12, RAW16, or JPEG12 pixel formats, most of the image processing is done on the PC. This processing is done as part of ladybugConvertImage(). This allows users to fine tune the output settings independently from image capture.

User access to adjusting the parameters for image processing is available in LadybugCapPro or via CSRs.

Data Format

Formats, Frame Rates, Image Sizes

Values are calculated with a theoretical maximum of 400 MB/s on the USB3 host controller. The Ladybug5+ has automatic buffer JPEG usage enabled to adjust the JPEG quality to fit. The maximum variable values are the worst case scenarios.

Shutter Range

Both Ladybug5 and Ladybug5+ offer four preset shutter range modes to set the maximum shutter value:

• Drive Highway—maximum shutter is set to as short as possible to prevent motion blur. Best used outdoors at high speeds or images may be too dark. This is the default.
• Drive City—maximum shutter is slightly longer than highway mode, suitable for slower speeds (~45 km/hour or 25 mph).
• Indoor—maximum shutter is slightly longer than the drive modes, for use in indoor applications.
• Low Noise—maximum shutter is not restricted.

Auto Exposure Modes

Both Ladybug5 and Ladybug5+ offer three preset modes for the auto exposure algorithm:

• Bottom 50%—uses only the bottom 50% of the five side cameras and excludes the top camera from its calculations.
• Top 50%—uses only top 50% of the five side cameras and includes the top camera in its calculations. This is the upside down version of the first mode, used when the camera is mounted upside down (for example, on a helicopter).
• Full Image—uses the entire image of all six cameras for its calculations. This is the default.

For 8-bit pixel formats, the auto exposure modes are set for image capture. For 12- and 16-bit pixel formats, the auto exposure modes are set both for image capture and post processing on the PC.

Software Workflow

Image Acquisition

The Ladybug5+ can be started and controlled in the same way as Ladybug5. However, there are some changes to your source code that should be made.

• Auto buffer usage should be enabled in JPEG data formats, instead of using a fixed JPEG quality value. This allows the camera to adjust the JPEG compression quality in order to fit the image into the available buffer size. The camera clamps the maximum quality value used to 80%. You can control the feature using ladybugSetAutoJPEGQualityControlFlag(), and control the buffer usage using ladybugSetAutoJPEGBufferUsage(). A buffer usage value between 90% to 95% is suggested.
• The default SDK settings when starting the camera are designed to allocate the appropriate frame buffer sizes in order to support 30 FPS or 60 FPS acquisition via an Intel host controller. If the desired frame rate or bandwidth is lower, the default SDK settings may be inadequate. Please see Using Packet and Buffer Size to Adjust Frame Rate on Ladybug5+ for further information on how to optimally tune your settings.

Stream Recording

The Ladybug5+ has the same maximum bandwidth and the amount of data written to disk per second is the same as Ladybug5. It is possible to greatly reduce the amount of data sent in JPEG modes by reducing the compression quality.

Image Processing and Stitching

The workflow for data formats with on-camera image processing remains the same. See the LadybugPanoStitch example for an example.

For data formats that do not perform image processing on-camera, see ladybugImageAdjustment.h in the \include directory for image processing parameters as well as usage instructions. In addition, the LadybugCapPro application provides a graphical interface to these parameters.

In both cases, ladybugConvertImage() prepares the image for output purposes, including JPEG decompression, Bayer demosaicing as well as image post processing.

Image Output

The image output functionality remains the same as previous LadybugCapPro versions. If a full resolution panoramic image is desired, it is recommended that an output size of 10000 x 5000 is used.

Image Size

For Ladybug5, the size of a single camera image after image conversion is 2448 x 2048. For Ladybug5+, the size of a single camera image after image conversion is 2464 x 2048.

If your software allocates its own memory for image conversion and texture updating, the amount of memory to be allocated should be 6 x W x H x (bytes per channel), where bytes per channel is 1 for 8‑bit modes, 1.5 for 12-bit modes, and 2 for 16-bit modes.

For example, the memory size required to contain a JPEG8 image after conversion is:

Ladybug5:  6 x 2448 x 2048 x 1 = 30081024 bytes

Ladybug5+: 6 x 2464 x 2048 x 1 = 30277632 bytes

Detailed Comparison between the Ladybug5 and Ladybug5+

Mechanical Properties

GPIO Properties

Diagram	Color	Pin	Function	Ladybug5 Description	Ladybug5+ Description
	Green	1	OPTO_GND	Ground for opto-isolated IO pins
	Blue	2	I0	Opto-isolated input (default Trigger in)
	Brown	3	O1	Opto-isolated output
	Orange	4	IO2	Input/Output	Input/Output / GPS data
	White	5	+3.3 V	Power external circuitry up to 150 mA
	Black	6	GND	Ground for bi-directional IO, VEXT, +3.3 V pins
	Red	7	VEXT	Allows the camera to be powered externally
	Red	8	VEXT	Allows the camera to be powered externally
	Red	9	VEXT	Allows the camera to be powered externally
	Green	10	OPTO_GND	Ground for opto-isolated IO pins
	Yellow	11	IO3	Input/Output	Input/Output / PPS signal
	Black	12	GND	Ground for bi-directional IO, VEXT, +3.3 V pins

Hardware/Electronics

Firmware

Software, Driver, and System Support

Dimensions

Note: The Ladybug5+ case has a dowel pin locator to ensure consistent orientation when mounting.

Ladybug5 and Ladybug5+ Dimensional Diagram